second skyline

ISO 80, 1/500", f/3.2

This photo was taken from the newly constructed breakwater just east of Pier Wisconsin and Seven Seas restaurant. Across the Milwaukee Harbor is our "second skyline" - a grouping of residential highrises separate from the downtown cluster.

untitled

ISO 80, 1/90", f/2.8

Snapped this one along Kenwood Boulevard near UWM.

Todd & Ashley

ISO 140, 1/8", f/2.8

My brother's engaged! I couldn't be more happy for the two of them... Congratulations Todd and Ashley.

under the sea

ISO 80, 1/20", f/2.8

The space between the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Summerfest grounds just got a whole lot more interesting thanks to Pier Wisconsin. Showcasing fish from the Great Lakes to the Carribean, aquariums abound at the east section of the building.

Go ahead and stare at the fish swimming above the glass tunnel or make your way through and have a go at petting a shark or stingray. Either way, this is definitely something to see.

DNA

ISO 80, 7/10", f/8

I finally got to see Pier Wisconsin today! For those of you who don't know, Pier Wisconsin is the latest addition to Milwaukee's lakefront. Inside is the new Discovery World, an incredible array of aquariums, and the best views Milwaukee has to offer.

While the place still has a long way to go before it's truly ready, there's plenty to see. The DNA strand in this picture is over thirty feet tall and continuously shrinks and grows through the center of a three story spiral staircase.

street lights

ISO 80, 8", f/8

I snapped this photo from the passenger seat of a friend's car on my way home tonight. Cool how the raindrops give perspective while the streams of light give the picture an intense sense of motion, no?

cards

ISO 140, 1/8", f/2.8

I had some friends over at the apartment last night for a few rounds of merriment and cheer, aka cards and beer. My cards were beyond terrible the entire evening but that's alright 'cause bad hand or not, they still made for a good picture.

early fall

200 speed negative film, 1/60", f/4
(scan)

I'm a little torn whether to be excited about the coming of fall or sad about the loss of warm weather. Regardless, it's obviously here. The air's too cold to leave the windows open all night and leaves are already starting to fall from trees. The fallen leaves? Love 'em... but the barren trees and weeks of cold, cloudy weather before the snow? Ugh.

Kilbourntown House (part two)

200 speed negative film, 1/125", f/19
(scan)

This photograph gives a more intimate perspective of Benjamin Church's Kilbourntown House. While obvious that time's taken its toll on this historic building, it's still a fantastic sight. If you're ever in the area, the home is open to the public and is completely furnished with mid-nineteenth century art and furniture.

More about this home in the post below...

Kilbourntown House (part one)

200 speed negative film, 1/60", f/19
(scan)

This home was relocated to Estabrook Park in the early 1900s but was originally built by Benjamin Church in 1844. Back then, Milwaukee was seperated into three settlements; Juneautown to the east of the river, Kilbourntown to the west, Walker's Point to the south. Two years after this home's construction, the rival towns grew too large to retain their independence and in January of 1846, they merged to form the city of Milwaukee.

On a semi-side note, if you'd like to learn more of Milwaukee's history, click here.

invasive species

ISO 80, 1/125, f/8

Just north of Milwaukee, 125 acres of fantastic park land straddle the Milwaukee River. It's an interesting combination of natural scenery and the human need to dominate the land. On all sides of Estabrook Park are enormous towers that cater to modern day necessities and while there, I can't help but be taken aback by how much we've changed this planet.

city gloom

ISO 80, 1/1500", f/5.6

This is an older photo from last Spring taken during a cold, dreary day with a low cloud line. Although the tallest building in Milwaukee (US Bank) stands at just over 600 feet, rarely is the top shrouded in clouds.

construction

ISO 80, 1/750", f/4

Cranes are everywhere in the city these days. Apparently word's gotten out that Milwaukee is a fantastic place to call home. The building going up in the background is called First Place on the River - one of an impressive array of new condos going up everywhere from the third ward to the east side.

cincinnati

ISO 80, 1/1000", f/2.8

Last March I took a trip through the Appalachian Mountains and stopped in a few cities along the way. This picture was taken in Cincinnati early one morning while I desperately drove around in search of a coffeeshop.

light war

ISO 80, 8", f/2.8

Some of my favorite photographs come from long exposures. For this shot I had the camera on a tripod and left the shutter open for eight seconds while one person with a headlamp stood still and the other jumped around.